Tips and tricks for fitting more fiber in your child's diet

Fiber is an essential component of a healthy diet, keeping the digestive system moving smoothly. Too often adults and especially children are lacking in the amount of fiber their bodies need.

For years, "Age Plus 5" was the standard for determining the daily grams of fiber recommended for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) adopted this simple guideline to help parents navigate the grocery aisles and plan healthy meals for their families. With the old fiber formula, a 5-year-old needed 10 grams of fiber while an older child, say 10-years-old, needed 15. Now, however, new guidelines, recently adopted by the AAP in their 2009 Pediatric Handbook, significantly increased the recommended daily fiber requirement -- a move promoted by the multiple health benefits of fiber including improving gastrointestinal function and creating a feeling of "fullness."

Age / Gender Fiber (grams)

2-3 years: .......... 19

4-8 years: .......... 25

9-11 years

Female: .......... 26

Male: .............. 31

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found in plant foods that humans cannot absorb or digest. According to Liz Weiss, MS, RD, co-author of The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers, "Foods that are rich in fiber include things like fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, beans, and nuts. The challenge that many busy moms face, however, is actually getting their kids to eat these foods happily and without complaint."

A recent survey found that while nearly 90 percent of moms know fiber is an important component of a healthy diet for children, over half don't know how many grams of fiber children are supposed to consume each day. The new guidelines are designed to clarify that issue, but what's a parent to do when their child refuses vegetables or freaks at the sight of whole wheat bread? Weiss offers these mom-tested, kid-approved tips and tricks for filling in the family fiber gap:

â¢ Opt for whole grain ready-to-eat and hot breakfast cereals. If the kids say, "no way," preferring refined cereal instead, compromise by mixing the two together. You'll be halfway to better nutrition and more fiber.

â¢ Offer fiber-rich fresh or dried fruit before the usual carb-based foods make their way to the table. Kids often wake up hungry, so present them with naturally sweet fruit first when their stomachs are growling.

According to Weiss, "The new fiber guidelines don't need to be daunting nor do parents have to walk around with a calculator! By choosing fiber-rich foods and incorporating them into everyday meals and snacks, kids will be well on their way to a great tasting, high fiber diet."